Analysis

This is how I do it: staying informed in the misinformation age

By Philip Cardella November 5, 2026

Miami, FL

Last week a friend asked me how I stay up to date on so many topics. "How do you have so much time to read?" the friend asked.

Later in the week I was with the same friend again and along with some other folks we were discussing Tuesday's election. During the conversation amongst the six of us it became clear that something set me apart from them: They get their news from the TV while I don't watch TV news at all. Not even a second of it over the course of the entire year.

I'm serious.

During the conversation about the election the friends also pointed out their distaste for large panels debating politics. They feel like these panels are mostly about acting and sensation and not actual debate. I certainly agree with them, this is a major reason why I don't consume any video news media.

Ok, that's not entirely true. I watch Weekend Update, both Saturday Night Live's and Saturday Night Live UK's versions. I also always watch Last Week Tonight with John Oliver.

The SNL shows are comedy that I don't consider news and Last Week Tonight is rigorously researched mini-documentaries presented with a veneer of humor.

Still, the main difference is, while many continue to watch TV shows they know aren't ideal, I choose to spend that time reading. I spend about the same time reading the news each day that most people who watch the news spend watching the news.

There's certainly nothing wrong with watching the news, but it does have a tendency to control what you are consuming, particularly in this present age of misinformation. Most people have one or two trusted news sources and what's on those stations is what is on.

By reading my news and analysis from a huge group of sources, I pick and choose what I want to consume.

Does this lead to bias on my part? Of course it does. Still, how do I consume so much information? By staying curious and seeking sources I trust. When as source I trust, such as Heather Cox Richardson, cites someone, I tend to mark that in that person or entity's favor. Yet, even with a towering mind and expert like HCR, I sometimes disagree. I think she personally knows Tom Nichols, a Naval War College scholar, and she seems to respect him a great deal.

I think he's little more than an internet troll blowhard.

Most of my trusted sources post daily in what used to be called blogs in spaces like Substack or Ghost. Do I read everything they post? Absolutely not. But I do at least try to keep up with what they're talking about. I often start to read something they post and stop because I'm not interested. Sometimes I skim what they write. Sometimes I save it to read later if I'm interested.

At any rate, enough about the fact that I like to read a lot of stuff, for better or worse. What I really want to do is post links to most of the people and groups I actually trust to provide people who are interested in something new to read.